Clock-movement



3 sheets sheet' l A. E; HOTCHKISS. Clock Movement.

No. 9,656. Reissued Apri! 12,188I.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. B.- HOTCHKISS. Clock Movement.

No. 9,656. Reissued April 12,1881.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A E. HOTGHKISS. Uioek Movement.

No. 9,656. Reissued April I2, p881.

CLOCK- PATENT, OFFICE.

OF CHESHIRE, UONNEO'llOUi.

MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATIQIQ forming part ofiReissued Letters Patent. No. 9,656, dated April 12, 1881,

Original No. 221,23). dated November 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it, known t at l, An'riiun E. Heron- KISS, of Cheshire, in the county of New Haven and. State of Connecticut, have invented cor tain new and usei'nl lmpi'onzlnents in Clock Movements; and i do hereby declare that the following; is a" lull, clear, mules-act, description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap lertziins to make and use the line, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference nun-lied thereon, which form a part of this specification This invention relates to that class of timeviews in which a fixed annular rncl; or in ternallv-toothed wheel is employed to aid a swingharrel in rotating); the train of wheels.

The nature ol'said in rention consists, partly, in the comhiinu'ion ota iixed in l;er]hilly-toothed circular rzuzl; and a concentric going harrel or rotating with said barrel, and a fixed clock movement.

It a-lso consists in arranging the operating parts of the timepiece on a iixed pinto, and

.attachine' the same to the hack of the clockfinger extending from the broad partof one of said tongues, wherelrvsaid mninspring'i: 'u'lnly held at its lixed end, yet easily detached.

It .ilso consists in the combination with a fixed plate which conlines the nuiinsprineand supports the movement, of arotatin plate arranged in front of said lixed plate, and provided with a hub, which extends through said fixed plate andis connected to the winding end oi. the imiiuspring.

it also consists in adopting to nntl-coinhiir ing with the huh thus constructed a key having a screw-threaded winding p z irt [or engng. ing' with said. huh, and a recessed part tor (,n gaging with the prismatic endot' the center shaft.

Application for reissue filed January 2:?, 1861.

outside of the ease.

It also consists in providing said hull with a spring which will force it down into place, and with a guide which will prevent it .t'rom turning.

itulsoconsi tsin l'urlherimprovements,hereiuni'ter set. forth and claimed.

represents a front perspective view ul'a clock embodying my invention, the trout oi'the case and the dinlplate having, been removed. Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation of the case, showing the method of alt-itching the works thereto. iiig. 5 represents arcar detail view ol" the malnsplilit: and the plate to which it is at.- tached.

pillar-plate, and the toothed ,ring or circular rack, showing the hollow winding-huh. Fig. 5 represents a .i'ront; perspective detail of the recessedcircular rack with the renr pillar-p111 to in position. Fig. (i represents a ill-tail viewot' the trout and rear pillar-plates and pillars in position,showing; theincthod otattnehing the Front pillar-plate to the pillars. Fig. 7 represents a detail view oi my automatic windingdog: applied on the center wheel and shaft. Fi represents a front vie w of in y dial-platel, 'sliowiug the method of attachment of said plate to the Front pillar-plate, and of the dial to said dial-plz'ite. Fig. 9 represents a detail. view of the slotted auton:aticallyadjlistable minute-lined. Fig-.10 represents a detail View oi the lie). Fl 11 represents a detail view. oi the peinluluin. Fig. i2 represents a detail view of the pendulunrhall gnitieplate. Fig. 33 re eseuts, in detail, the transitaiming-wheel in the accompanying dmwiiu s, lrigure 1' the said ball may he ell'ectod conveniently from Fig. i represents a detail sectional view oi the lixe-d plate, the rotating plate, the

- said casebottoin A is and adjacent parts. Fig". 14 represents, in front elevation, the train of wheels, pendulum, and the rear of the case. Fig.15 represents afront perspective view of the front part of my clock-ease. Fig, 16 represents a rear per spective view of the same. Figs. 17 and 18 show detail views of the bottom support for the clock-front in rear perspective and vertical section, respectively. Most of these details are enlarged from the scale of Fig. 1, to exhibit more plainly the smaller features of the device.

In said drawings, A designates the hack of the cloclrcase, and A the bottom thereof. This case is made, preferably, ot'shect metal, which may be nickel-plated, if desired, and the-said back is constructed with a central opening, a, to receive the whirling-hub, (hert-v inafter described,) and with smalleropenlugs, a, near the sides to receive the tongues, where by the works are fastened to the case. The provided with an opening, o which allows the entrance of the key to adjust the pendulum-ball. The construction of the clock-case and the adaptation of the works thereto allow the clock to be wound, set, and regulated without opening, the case.

B designates the inainspring, and G a fixed disk or plate, which holds the same in position between said plate and the back of the clock. Said main-spring occupies the whole back of the space occupied by the works, so as to give the greatest running power with the least possible expense of room, one ot' the leading ob 5 jects of my invention being to render it posr ble to make a cheap, neat, and satist'actoi' time-piece ct unusually small size. Many of the features of said invention are, however, applicable to large clocl-zsor other large time pieces as well.

The said platc U i'orins a sort of base-plate or attaching-plate for all the works of the watch, so that when it is detached from the watch-case all at said works will come oil with it. v

The attachment ot said plate to said case is effected as follows: 0 designates four or more short flanges, formed in one piece with plate U and terminating in square shoulders, which rest against the back A. These flanges are formed with narrow rcarwardly extending tongues or claws c, which pass through said openings a in said clock-case back, and are bent on the outside thereof, so as to clamp said plate and its attachments in plat. These tongues or claws a have sullicicnt strength to hold the lightworks permanently in position; but they are readily straightened to allow the separation of works and case for cleaning and other purposes.

The llanges U answer the same purpose as the sides ot'aii ordinary watch barrel in holding the expanding mainspring in place, and the tixcd end ol said mainspring ii is attached to one of said flanges by means of a perforation in said spring, which sits over a finger, 0, formed on thesidc of said flange. This conallow the spring B to be conveniently inspected.

-On said fixed siderably above the periphery of the same, is permanently secured a fixed internally-geared ring or circular rack, I), which meshes with and gives motion to a gear-wheel, it, carried bya rotating" plate, F, which is siiniIa-rin form to plate 0 ancl'rests against it. These plates are concentric, and plate Fis some what sm alier than plate 0. Plate F is provided with acentral hollow hub, G, attached to a short hollow cylindrical bearing, G, which extends through a central opening of plate 0. To the outside of this hub the winding and operating end of mainspring' B is attached. Thus the said mainspring, operates to rotate said plate F.

The wheel E, carried by said rotating; plate, is journaled on a rivet or headed stud formed with or attached to said plate. This method of attachment and journaling is very strong and secure, and, besides, avoids all necessity for an additional bearing; or brace for the pivot-shaft. The said wheel E is, in oii'ect, an idle-wheel,transmitting the action of the cogs in the stationary geared ring or circular rack to a pinion, c, on the center-shaft H and the train of wheels I. The ccntcushaft has its outer bearingin the cylindrical piece G, and its inner bearing in the fixed front plate, hereinatter described so that it does not turn with plate F, but is stationary with relation thereto. The rem ainin ,9; wheels of the trainor movement are also stationary with reference to the motion of said plates J K. The only wheel which does not have a stationary axis is the transmittingwheel E, whose function is that of an idlewheel.

By making the movement stationary instead of causing it to he carried around by the revolving plates, (as movements have heretofore been lttl'l'letl,byg'UllI,Q;-lldl'l'0l5 operating with a tired rack,) I avoid divers practical ditl'icultics of manufacture incidental to the coast-r110 tion and use of so many wheels having moving axes and compound revolution. iiloreover, I thereby adapt the movcmentto be used with a pendulum, which would otherwise be practically impossible, as the pendulum cannot well be made to revolve.

The train ot' whecls between plates J K is arranged as a whole in a circle concentric with the center-shaft and center-wheel, so as to occupy the least possible amount of space.

The construction of the plates U F and or the attached parts gives to my time-piece the combined advantages of a iixed barrel and a going-barrel. The tixcd plate 0 cll'cctnally braces the revolving plate F, and the latter has no need of the flanges or side pieces l'onnd in an ordinary going-barrel. it is obvious, however, that said 1' U\' ll\lll, plate h may be furnished with such flanges, it desired. This plate F is protected at the side by the circular plate 0, and extending conplate, being jonrnaled into.

raclr D, and in front by the pillar-plate J. This pillar-plate at a sufficient distance from said rotating plate to allow space for the transmitting-wheel E, and the center-pinion, with which it meshes. To enable said pillar-plate to be thoroughly braced by said rack, and also tit the parts together in the smallest possible space, the said rack is constructed with an internal annular recess, g, in its rear edge or con ner. Said pillar-plate J is into this recess. Said pillar-plate has a central opening, J winch is of suflicieut size to allow the centerpinion, and preferably, also, the center-wheel, to pass through the saiue,.thus allowing the convenient introduction and removal of said wheel, besides saving metal. The front plate, K, has a similar opening, which is crossed by a bearing-bar rigid with said plate, in which bar the front end of. the center-shaft is journaled. This open construction of said plates facilitates the inspection of the work between them.-

The pillars J are formed in one piece with said. pillar-plate J, and preferably by striking up out of sheet metal. Each pillar terminates in square shoulders j, which abut against the rear side of'i'ront plate, K, and short arms or tipsj, which extend through holes is in said plate K. lfly twistiug said tips said front pillar-plate is clamped to said pillars. This twisting may hee'l'i'ected by any convenient tool. When said tips are bent hack again, so as to be straight, there is no ditiiculty in separating the pillar-plates.

The first plate K is triangular in shape, so as to give the greatest possible service as a support, with the least possible expenditure of mater-inland increase of the weight of the clock. it requires but three pillar-one at each corner-to hold it firmly in position, as shown; Said front plate is provided with a fixed pin, L, which extends forward, so as to pass through a perforation, m, in the dial-plate M, so as to prevent said dial-plate from having rotary motion.

he lial N is attached to dial-plate M by an eyelet, O, which is struck up forward from the center oi said plate and bent back upon said dial. Said eyelet is in one piecewith said dial-plate. By having said eyeletin one piece with said dial-plate the danger of losing said eyelet is emirely obviated and the number of separate parts lessened. The dial-plate itself is held against the ends of the pillars by the hands of .he watch, which are arranged and attached 2-5 usual, with the following exception: The ceuter-shnft should be perfectly cylindrical, so as to exactly it the hole in the minute-hand hut in practice some irregularity of shape in said shaftis frequently met with. To o'oria .c this ditiicultythe inner end oi the hand is alottcd or split from the hole outward at p, as shown in detail'iu Fig. 9, the said hand being made of elastic material. The elasticity oi the hand thus splitwill cause itto grasp tightly a shaft which is not a perfectly true cylinder, so that the hand will re tain its properplace.

This construction thus forms an automatic adjustment for said hand. Of course both hands may'he constructed in this way.

Of course many of thefentures oi my improved timehee'per may be used in a. marine clock or other horological device which does not include a pendulum. In the accompany ing drawings 1 have, however, shown a pendulum hung upon a hniteedge, and designated Q. As the peculiar method of hanging said pendulum is snliicieutly covered by an earlier pateutot' myown, i need not describe it more particularly here. The pivot pin or shaft of said pendulum is above the center-shaft and the train'of wheel's surrounding the same. This gives sufficient swing for the pendulumhall without unduly increasing the height of the clock or requiring a case of unusual size. The ball R ot this pendulum is adjusted up 'and down on therod R thereof by the not 1',

to regulate the length of its oscillation and insure the proper action of the verge on the escapeuient. This nut r is' made of the same size as the prismatic end of the center-shaft, so as to be operated by the same recessed arm tot the key T. (Showuiu detail in Fig. 10.) This arm tis passed up through the opening in the bottom of the clocltcase, hcreinbcibre de scribed, so that the clock can be regulated readily without opening said case. Said pendulum Q is shown in detail in Fig. 11. Its hall It is provided with a long vertical recess, 7*, through which rod It passes. Said rod is surrounded within said recess by a helical spring, 0 which bears at its upper end against a gnid plate, S, fixed to said rod R, and at its lower end against said ball 1. The eti'ect of said spring is to hold said ball down to its proper place against not 1".

The construction of guide'plate S is clearly shown in detail in Fig. 12. middle part, 8, which extends into recess i and of straight wings s, which extend on each side along the face of flattened ball B. These wings prevent said ball from turning on said rod. Such turning would cause unnecessary wear, and would interfere with the accuracy of the pendulum action. I

The clock is wound by means of key T and huh G. Said hub is internally screw threaded, and extends to the outside of case'back-A through opening a. Key T is T-shaped,-and provided with a screw-threaded extension, T, which fits the threads of said hub. When the clocl; is to be wound said extension is screwed into said huh. As soon as said extension is screwed quite home the next turn of the key- .in the some direction causes the wiudingot' the mainspring to begin. As soon as the winding complete the said hey is turned'in the opposite direction, so as to unscrew said extension and thus detach said key. To set the hands the prismatically-reeessed arm t of said hey is inserted in hollow hub G and pressed back till it engages with the prismatic end of the cen ter shat't. The use of this arm for regu- It consists of a lating the vibration of the pendulum has al' ready been described. it will be evident that this key is susceptible oi a triple use.

The back plate, A, and bottom plate, A, of the clock-case aromatic in one piece. This construction enables me to conveniently disclose the working, of the mechanism while the clock is in position for use. i simply remove the remainder oi" the case. The bottom A then supports the back A and the parts attached thereto, which comprise all the works, and the dial of the clock. The wheels, spring. and pendulum are then easily accessible from all quarters, and any obstruction or imperfection will bereadily perceived. lll'lilllll) cases the mechanism mag be cleaned or mended without. taking into pieces, and its win-hing may be convenimitly exhil'iitcd.

The sides 95 and top Z of the case are made from one piece of metal bentinto the lone arched shape suited to a pendnlnnrcloclt. The front edge of the same is bent inward along its entire length to hold the glass t'ront. The lower ends of said side pieces are connccied lo a strip, 2, of metal, which stands out there l'ronnand which exlendsaoross tho spaeci'rom one side to the other. Said strip is turned in at its lower mine to serve as a support for said glass front, and the portion thus turned in is provided with cars z, which extend vertically up behind the glass. The upper edge of said pieces is also turned in to bear against the front, of the glass.

Instead of the ordinary winding pawl or dog; pressed by a spring against the ratchctlceth, I employ an automatic verge like dog. U. (Shown in detail in Fin. '4'.) This dog is pivoted to the center-wheel l and has an impulse-pallet that is curved slightly inward, and a detcnt-pallct which has an inwardly-me tending 'nose or point. The inclined part at each tooth on ratchet 1 acts to press outward said inipnlsdpnllct, and thereby to force in ward the other or dclcnt pallet. The latter is thus kept in such position as to catch one of the teeth of said ratchet. on the iirst reverse movementof said ratchet and shall. As there no swing'pmssnre on said dog U it riclds Very readily to the motion of its ratchet in winding, and it does not make the disagreeableclicking sound which is made by an ordinary spring;- pressed pawl.

The hand i. may be ctmstructed with any other suitable elastic attaching end instead of the slotted one shown. The latter construction is, however, prcicrred.

i am aware that it is not broadly new to make a clock with three plates, and that. it is not new to put the main wheel and first wheel on the rear side of the middle plate, the center-pinion and the rest of the train of wheels being in front of said plate.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettcis Patent, is-- 1. In combination with a fixed circular rack and a stationary clokhiovement, a plate rotated by the inainspringand carrying adeirice which connects the rack and movement-substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A perforated clock-case hack, in combination with a base-plate for the movement, said baseplate being provided with flexible claws, which may pass through the perforations-in said clock-case back, substantially as y in combination with mainspring h and fixed plate (J, therotating plate F ant: its hub (i, said hub extending through platiO, for the attachment of the spring, substantially as set forth.

6. in combii'n tion with ratchet V, a vergelike automatic winding-dog U. held in proper position for catching; by the tin-ward motion of said ratchet.

7. ln combination with a pillar-ph'ite,a fixed circular rack having an annular inner recess to receive said plate, whereby said rack serves also the purpose oi attachnig-said,plate, and the said parts are made to occupy the least possible space.

8. in combination with a perforated front plate, a roar pillar-plate having twisted tongues on the ends of its pillars, whereby said plates and pillars are clamped together, substantially as seti'orth. i

9. In combination with a pendulum-rod and adjustable pendnluinball, a, spring, arranged to force said ball down against the adjustingnut.

ll). In combination with a pendulunrrod. and an adjustable pcndi'ilnm-ball, a spring fitted into a recess of said ball and operating to force the latter down against the said nut.

11. In combination with the adjusting-nut, of a pendulum, a clockc: so bottom perforated at A and a key having a prismatic recess titling said out, whereby the height of thependulum-ball may be adjusted by the key from the outside at the clock-case, substantially as set -i'orth.

13. in combination with a hollow internallyscre'w-threadetl winding-hub and a centershalt, a he having a screw-threaded portion for engaging with said l1ub,aud a prismam wally-recessed portion for-passing through said hub and engaging with the center-shaft.

13. ln combination with'the clock-case and the l'ront plate, rear plate, and an intermediate plate, a mainspring, main wheel, and centerpinion arranged behindsaid Tntermediateplate, and a train of gearing constituting the remain-- der of the works arranged in front of said intermediate plate.

iIO

14. In combination with the clock case and works, a plate which divides the mainspring,. main wheel, and center-pinion from the remainder of the works, said plate being constructed with a central opening which is larger thanthe center-wheekin order to allow the.

removal or inspection of said wheel through said opening. p 15. Incombination with the'first wheel, "a

mainspring-arr'anged against the back of the clock-case, a train 'of wheels arranged between the'front plate and an intermediate plate, a

center-shaft extending beyond theintermediate plate to its bearing in the rear plate, and a pendulum hung above said center-shaft, substantially as set forth. V 16. In a clock-movement, a plate havingan openin g through which the eenter-shaftpasses, said opening being sntfieiently large to permit the withdrawal of the center-pinion through the same. 1 7. in combination with the first wheel and the mainspring arranged against the back of the elock-oase a train of wheels arranged between' the front plate and [ID-- intermediate plate, a center-shaft extending beyond the center-plate and supported-by a bearing in the,

rear plate, and a pendulum hung ,above said center-shaft, substantially as set forth.

18 In combination with an adjustable pendulum-ball, a clock-case having an opening at -its bottom, which allows the adjustment of said pendulum-bail from the bottom of saidease, and renders an opening in the front of said 0386 K111808883 ry.

19. In com bination with an adj ustable pendnlnm-ball, a clock-case having an opening at its bottom, and a key adapted to adjust the height of the pendulum-ball, for the purpose 

